It's that time of year when runners are kicking it into high gear, getting ready for the slew of marathons, half-marathons and other competitive distance runs coming up. They run in groups. They participate in 5Ks. But sometimes it's a good idea to try something different. Something challenging in a new way.
"If you look at the calendar for a year, there's marathons, 5Ks, 10Ks, it's chockablock with them," Tom Aspel says. "You need something a little bit different. You need variety."
Runners can find it in the One Hour Track Run, 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Danville High School, 201 E. 11th St., Danville. It's also the kickoff event for the 2015 Arkansas Grand Prix Series.
In this race, the runners run around a track for one hour while chip-timing keeps track of their laps. When the hour is up, runners freeze on the spot while race workers use a measuring wheel to figure up exactly how far everyone has run past the marker for their last full lap.
Everyone, regardless of speed, ability or experience, is welcome and encouraged to give it a try. Because there are speedy runners and slower runners and walkers, the race is held in two heats, with the slower runners (over 8:20 per mile) at 1:30 p.m. and their faster counterparts at 3:15 p.m.
"Normally we've got about 200 runners," race director Aspel says. "If you've got somebody who's walking or running 10-minute-mile pace and someone running 5- to 6-minute pace, if they look around and try to get out of the way, they end up colliding. It's easier to put the same pace people together."
According to Aspel, a track run like this can be valuable for those training for a big race because it mixes things up a bit. Training groups and individual runners tend to stick to a well-worn path of typical 5Ks, half-marathons or weekly group runs, but there are other opportunities out there.
"There are trail runs. There are races like this. Sometimes it gets monotonous when you're doing the same thing after same thing and it's sometimes harder to improve that way."
It may also give a boost to the runner by focusing on how far they can go in an hour.
"In these marathons, there's clocks just about everywhere," he says. As runners make their way through a challenging, long-distance course, remembering what they accomplished in an hour track run, "they can relate to what they've already done. It helps with self-esteem. It can give you a certain kind of confidence level to do something like this in your training."
Everyone who participates gets a reminder of their effort: a medal with the runner's name, the year and the distance they ran on the back.
"It's kind of nice to know, when you look back on it, 'Hey, I was this fast!' Sometimes, when you get a 5K trophy or a marathon trophy, it just says 'Second Place.' This gives you a little more definition of what you've done."
No matter how fast or how slow, Aspel also promises a treat of soup or chili at the end. Usually, it's very cold for this race.
"Last year it was hot, 66 or 67 degrees, so I thought, 'OK, nobody needs chili,'" Aspel recalls. "They all griped. So, this year I'll have it regardless. Often, people don't eat much before going into a race like that. They get hungry after."
Registration is $25 before the race, $30 on race day.
Call (479) 857-4527 or visit runsignup.com.
Family frolic
For 10 years, Northwest Arkansas Mercy Family YMCA hosted a fashionable 5K called Tux on the Run. But now they're going less fancy, more family.
"We decided to change because it got kind of hard to explain what Tux on the Run was," says Health and Wellness Director Ashton Caton. "And we wanted to make it a more family event."
Hence, the Frostbite Family 5K with "family" right there in the name. Actually, they're calling it "Northwest Arkansas' Familiest 5K."
It starts at 10 a.m. Jan. 31 at the YMCA, 5214 Village Parkway, Rogers, and children are allowed and encouraged to run.
In some ways, it's a typical, serious 5K. It's chip timed, and there will be trophies for the male and female overall winners and medals for the top three in each age group. But that's not the point of it all.
"We want it to be a fun event," Caton says. "We don't want it to be all about the competition and winning and all of that. There's enough of that in our area. We want to have fun with everybody who comes out."
The course is the same one as 2014. Other than one half-mile hill, it's a downhill or flat course that Caton says is "pretty easy."
Even if the whole family doesn't lace up the running shoes and hit the pavement, there's still a good reason to bring everyone out: the new Family Fun Zone. The area will have bounce houses, winter-theme games like a snowman bean-bag toss and a toboggan relay and there will be a hot chocolate bar. Admission to the fun zone is free and open for everyone.
As for costumes, dressing up will still be a big part of the day, but with the new theme, those costume categories will be a bit different. Rather than Best Dressed, Best Scarf and Best Embodiment of the Theme, there will be Best Frostbite Outfit, Best Snowman Outfit and Most Dressed. And, yes, people have to run in the costumes.
"Which is what makes it fun," Caton says.
Registration is $30 and proceeds will go to the YMCA's scholarship program. The YMCA doesn't turn people away and scholarships provide financial assistance for its programs and membership.
"It's not about winning," Caton says. "It's about having fun as a family. That's what the YMCA is all about and that's what we want to tell everybody. Just trying to make it a fun event so your kids come out and run with you, and we teach healthy lifestyles for all ages."
Call (479) 273-9622 or visit ymcanwa.org.
Readers can send tips about wellness-supporting active recreation opportunities to Jennifer Nixon at
jnixon@arkansasonline.com
ActiveStyle on 01/19/2015